The estimated resident population of Queensland as at 31 December 2001 was 3,670,500 persons, consisting of 1,824,300 males and 1,846,200 females. The population of Queensland constituted 19% of the total Australian population.

Between 2000 and 2001, Queensland's population grew at a rate of 1.9%, the highest rate of growth for all states and territories and above the Australian rate of 1.3%. The states with the next highest rate of growth were Victoria and Western Australia at 1.3%.

Natural increase (the excess of births over deaths) contributed 24,834 persons to the Queensland population during 2001. This represents a slight increase (393) on the 2000 natural increase figure.

BIRTHS

In 2001, there were 47,678 births registered in Queensland, a slight increase (400 births) on the number registered in 2000.

In 2001, the total fertility rate in Queensland was 1.8 children per female, compared to 1.7 children per female in Australia.

The median age of Queensland mothers for all confinements was 29.3 years compared with 30.0 years for all Australia.

Exnuptial births represented 35% of all births registered in Queensland in 2001, a substantially greater proportion than the 26% of all births registered as exnuptial in 1991.

In 2001, one in every 65 confinements resulted in a multiple birth in Queensland. There were 727 sets of twins and higher order births registered.

DEATHS

In 2001, there were 22,856 deaths registered in Queensland comprising 12,252 males and 10,604 females. This was an increase of 2% on the number registered in 2000.

Queensland's leading causes of death in 2001 continued to be Malignant neoplasms (cancer) and Ischaemic heart disease, together accounting for over 50% of all deaths.

Cerebrovascular disease (stroke) was also a major cause, accounting for 10% of total deaths in 2001.

Median age at death in Queensland was 74.7 years for males and 81.4 years for females, slightly lower than the Australian median ages of 75.5 years for males and 81.8 years for females.

There were 282 infant deaths registered in 2001, a 3% decrease on the number registered in 2000.

The infant mortality rate for 2001 was 5.9 per 1,000 live births, a decrease from the rate of 6.2 recorded in 2000 and significantly less than the 1991 rate of 7.6.

MIGRATION

In 2001, net overseas migration to Queensland was 18,665 persons, an increase of 20% since 2000.

Net interstate migration for Queensland totalled 21,995, resulting from 102,499 arrivals and 80,504 departures. This was an increase of 8% on 2000, but 29% below the level of 1991.

MARRIAGES

There were 20,314 marriages registered in Queensland in 2001, a decrease of 11% on the number registered in 2000.

In 2001, Queensland's crude marriage rate was 5.6 marriages per 1,000 population. Despite the lower number of marriages registered in 2001, Queensland's crude marriage rate remained the highest rate recorded in all states and territories. Queensland and New South Wales were the only states to record a crude marriage rate above the Australian rate of 5.3.

The median age at first marriage in Queensland was 28.5 years for males and 26.6 years for females.

Marriages performed in civil ceremonies outnumber those performed by ministers of religion in 2001. Civil ceremonies comprised 57.3% of all marriage ceremonies in 2001, compared with 42.4% in 1991.

DIVORCES

There were 12,085 divorces granted in Queensland in 2001, a 20% increase on the number granted in 2000 and a 35% increase on the number granted in 1991 (see paragraph 36 of the Explanatory Notes of this publication).

Queensland's crude divorce rate in 2001 was 3.3 divorces per 1,000 population, the highest rate in the nation and above the Australian rate of 2.8.

The median interval between marriage and final separation was 8.3 years in 2001, continuing the gradual trend of increase for this interval.

The number of applications for divorce lodged by both husband and wife also continued to increase. In 2001, joint applications constituted 21% of total applications for divorce, compared with the 1991 proportion of 9%.

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS

Based on preliminary estimates from the 2001 Census, Queensland's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population was estimated to be 126,035 persons at 30 June 2001.

In Queensland in 2001 there were 3,337 births (7% of the total) registered with one or both parents identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous). There were 2,427 births to Indigenous mothers.

The median age of Queensland's Indigenous mothers giving birth in 2001 was 24.9 years compared with a median age of 29.3 years for all Queensland mothers.

There were 565 Indigenous deaths registered in Queensland in 2001, comprising 2% of total deaths registered.

In 2001, the median age at death was 52.5 years for Indigenous males and 54.1 years for Indigenous females. These ages were considerably lower than the median age at death for the total Queensland population of 74.7 years for males and 81.4 years for females.

Leading causes of death for the Indigenous population in 2001 were Malignant neoplasms (cancer) and Ischaemic heart diseases, which together accounted for 37% of Indigenous deaths. The same two leading causes accounted for 51% of non-Indigenous deaths. External causes (accidents, poisonings and violence) accounted for 16% of Indigenous deaths, compared to 7% of non-Indigenous deaths. Diabetes accounted for 7% of Indigenous deaths compared to 2% of non-Indigenous deaths in Queensland.